Mind your manners. We’ve all heard that since we were kids, but some of us forget to do it when we’re at the beach. There’s plenty of summer still ahead, so the timing couldn’t be better for a review of the dos and don’ts of beach behavior.
Here’s a look at some rules of beach etiquette:
Don’t be a space invader. Don’t plop yourself and your stuff – umbrellas, chairs, carts and coolers – six inches away from someone else. Above all, don’t set up directly in front of others, obscuring their water view. Stephanie, a twenty-something local, finds it irritating “when people set up right in front of you as if you weren’t there. You’ve picked the perfect spot, and then your view of the water gets blocked.” Similarly, Christine, a summer resident from Drexel Hill, Pa., says, “I can’t stand it when you set up and people sit on top of you.”
Don’t spray sand. If you plan to shake out a towel or blanket, do so at the water’s edge or simply move far away from others. It’s a good idea to check the wind direction, too, so you can avoid pelting others with sand. Toni, Christine’s mom, cites inconsiderate blanket shakers as bothersome.
Don’t blare music. Just because you like certain music, it doesn’t mean everyone else does. Eileen, a West Chester, Pa., resident with a home in Ocean View, says it’s bothersome when someone is playing music too loud, especially if it’s a type of music you don’t like. Bianca, 25, of Upper Township and a “36th Street beacher” in Ocean City, echoes that sentiment: “I don’t want to have music blasting when I’m trying to read and relax.”
Don’t be a boisterous beachgoer. To the point, don’t shout on your cell phone. We don’t need to hear the details of your business deal. Nor do we need to know how your date went last night or what’s on the dinner menu. By all means, “turn the speaker off,” says Lou, Christine’s dad.
Don’t feed the sea gulls — accidentally or on purpose. Marianne, a summer resident, notes, “I prefer people not throw chips and cookies in the sand. When they do, the sea gulls come to dine.” Just so you know, sea gulls are “kleptoparasites.” They steal food from other species. They don’t need you to provide it. Their natural food sources are shellfish, not people snacks.
Don’t be a preoccupied parent. Stephanie comments that it bothers her when people don’t mind their kids. Stephanie, you’re not alone.
It should go without saying, but don’t smoke. Smoking is prohibited on Ocean City and other area beaches. But, “Every now and again you get a whiff,” says Eileen’s husband, Anthony.
Don’t wear a skimpy bathing suit. As for thongs, leave them behind. On the boardwalk, coverups are classy.
Don’t dig deep holes. You may not realize it but collapsing holes have caused serious injuries.
Don’t set up camp. Some people bring tarps and tents as if they’re going on safari. Be mindful of taking up too much space and blocking everyone’s view (go back to rule number one). FYI — In Ocean City, tents and canopies are limited in size to 10’ x 10’.
Don’t try to sneak your dog on the beach. That’s a pet peeve.
Do clean up after yourself. You learned this in kindergarten. Don’t litter the beach with plastic shovels, sand molds and buckets. Plastic left behind endangers sea life.
Do secure umbrellas on gusty days. No one needs to be impaled on vacation.
To our credit, as Eileen and others point out, people who frequent Ocean City and other area beaches tend to be respectful and abide by beach etiquette. Typically, they’re friendly. Some will even share their bug spray (on days when the west wind prevails).
And, while the tips above are mostly don’ts, here are dos for summer at the shore: build sea castles, collect seashells, boogie board the waves, ride a carousel on the boardwalk, and relish sun-kissed days.
Alice Urbanski is a freelance writer from Upper Township. She writes the Summer at the Shore column for the Sentinels.